Which most likely causes the arctic fox fur color to change seasonally from white to reddish brown?

Study for the North Carolina Grade 8 End-of-Grade Science Test. Prepare with multiple choice questions, each question has hints and explanations. Ace your exam!

Multiple Choice

Which most likely causes the arctic fox fur color to change seasonally from white to reddish brown?

Explanation:
Seasonal fur color change is driven by environmental signals, especially the length of daylight. The changing day length acts as a cue that triggers hormonal adjustments in the fox, causing it to molt and switch pigment production so its coat goes from white in winter to reddish brown in summer. The genes set up the animal’s ability to change color and molt, but the actual seasonal timing comes from daylight cues, not just the fox’s age or habitat. So, the amount of sunlight present is the most likely trigger for this seasonal change.

Seasonal fur color change is driven by environmental signals, especially the length of daylight. The changing day length acts as a cue that triggers hormonal adjustments in the fox, causing it to molt and switch pigment production so its coat goes from white in winter to reddish brown in summer. The genes set up the animal’s ability to change color and molt, but the actual seasonal timing comes from daylight cues, not just the fox’s age or habitat. So, the amount of sunlight present is the most likely trigger for this seasonal change.

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